Buckle.



n. F. DALTON.

BUCKLE.

APPLICATlON FILED BULY 13.!912.

1,246,725 Patented Nov. 13, 191?.

UN TED STATES FATENT onnircn DANIEL IE. ALTON, on WAT RBURY,CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD To JAMES C-ROMZPTON, or WATERBURY,CONNECTICUT.

BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

Application filed July 13, 1917. Serial No. 180,276.

drawings and the characters of reference" marked thereon, to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawingsconstitute part of this application, and represent, in-

Figure 1 a plan view of a buckle con-- structed in accordance with myinvention, with the coupling-piece detached.

Fig. 2 a reverse plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 a vertical sectional view of the parts in the engaged position.

Figs. 4 and 5 are underside views of modified forms of my invention,with the levers shown in the open position.

Fig. 6 an underside view of another modified form of my invention.

Fig. 7 a face view of the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in buckles and adapted for usein securing overshoes, overcoats, and various other purposes, theinvention particularly relating to the form and arrangement of spring,the object being to employ a wire spring whichwill also serve as meansfor connecting the lever to the body-member and to so form the partsthat they will be interlocked with each other; and the inventionconsists in the construction and arrangement of parts which will behereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims.

In carrying out my invention as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I employ abody-member 7 struck up from sheet metal and prov1ded on opposite sideswith perforations 8 by which it may be secured in place, although thesemeans may be varied according to the purpose for which the device isused. The body is formed with a projecting lip 9 at its forward end forthe purpose as will hereinafter appear. The body is also formed with arectangular opening 10, and at its rear end with an ear 11 which isrolled to form a bearing for the ends of a spring 12. This spring 12 isformed from a piece of sprlng wire bent into U shape and at its outerend with a bow 13 which projects outward through the rectangular opening10 and forms a connection for the lever 14 which is formed at its innerend with a bar 15 over which the hook extends, the end of the leverhaving a bearing on the casing on opposite sides of the opening 10. Thisdevice is used in connection with a coupling-piece of any desiredcharacter. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, this coupling-piece 16 isformed with perforated cars 17 by which it may be attached to a garment,and this couplingpiece has a rectangular opening 18 forming a bar 19which is engaged by the lever 14 in the usual way of buckles of thistype. As shown, the central portion of the casing is thrown outward andthe bar 19 is similarly thrown outward so as to fit over the casing andso that the projecting lip 9 may rest upon the face of thecoupling-piece which is thereby prevented from turning. The parts wheninterlocked are thus firmly held together.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings, I have illustrated a modification of myinvention in which the ends of the wire are turned outward and uplwardlyand engaged by ears 20 formed on the sides of the casing instead of atthe end as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings; and in this case a metal tab21 may be connected with the rear end of the casing as a means forattaching the device to a garment. The arrangement and action of thespring is the same as before described. In this connection it will benoted that the wire extends into notches 22 formed in the ears 20, butthe lower portion of the ears may be omitted as indicated in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings, which also shows the casing provided with a perforation 23by which the device may be attached to a garment. It is thus apparentthat the fixed end of the spring may be connected with the body-memberor casing in a variety of Ways, that the casing may be connected withthe garment in any desired manner, and it will also be understoodwithout further illustration that the rough a centrally arrangedperforation, ey may be separated so as to extend through separatelyformed perforations 27.

n this case, instead of forming the lever 14:

with a rectangular opening to form a bar to be engaged by the hooks, thelever 14 may be formed on opposite sides with ears 28 to be engaged bythe hooks 25 as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. By forming the springfrom wire the body-member or casing may be formed from softer metal thanis necessary when the spring is formed as an integral part of the bodyor casing.

I claim 1. A buckle comprising a body member formed with an opening awire spring connected with the body member and formed with a hook at theouter end projecting outward through the opening in the body member, anda lever connected with the hook portion of the wire projecting outwardthrough the body member.

2. A buckle comprising a body-member the central portion of which isstruck outward and formed at its outer end with a forwardly projectinglip said body-portion also formed with a rectangular opening, a wirespring connected with the body member and formed with a. bend at itsouter end projecting outward through said opening, a lever engaged withsaid spring, combined with a coupling member formed with a clearanceopening through which the lever and tongue project the tongue adapted tobear upon the face of the coupling-piece.

3. A buckle comprising a body-member or casing the central portion ofwhich is struck outward and provided with a forwardly projecting lip,said body-member also formed with an opening, a wire spring connectedwith the body-member and formed with a bend at its outer end projectingoutward through said opening, a lever provided at its end with a barengaged by the said spring; combined with a couplingmember formed with aclearance opening and with a bar, the bar ofiset so as to rest upon theoffset portion of the body-member and permit the lip to engage with thesurface of the coupling-member.

In testimony whereoef, I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL F. DALTON.

Witnesses:

ALFRED P. CoLeAN, E. D. KEELEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

